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Taiwan Says F-16V Deliveries to Start This Year After First Jet Clears Initial Flight Test

Lockheed Martin reports two-shift, full-capacity output with no parts or staffing bottlenecks.

A F-16V lands at the air base in Hualien, Taiwan, August 17, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang

Overview

  • Taiwanese officials inspected the first of 66 new F-16V fighters at Lockheed Martin’s South Carolina line during a March 16 visit.
  • The aircraft has completed its initial flight test and will conduct a final acceptance flight in the United States before shipment to Taiwan.
  • Taiwan’s defense ministry says deliveries will begin this year after earlier delays tied to integration and software issues.
  • Lockheed Martin has assigned several hundred workers to the program and says production is proceeding without supply or manpower constraints.
  • The Taiwan-configured F-16V requires ongoing software calibration through repeated test flights, as Taiwan adds new builds to a fleet that includes 141 upgraded F-16A/Bs from a 2019 $8 billion deal.